Sympatex®
is a lightweight, ultra-thin, non-porous polyester
membrane that is totally waterproof,
totally windproof, and highly breathable.
It is invisibly sewn between the lining and
the outer material of footwear, gloves, clothing
and accessories. Visit www.sympatex.com.
Comfort
and performance combined into one...
The best part is
you don't have to trade comfort for performance:
Sympatex offers superior fit. It can be
stretched up to 300%. So
you can imagine how easily it accommodates
your feet, even under high performance situations
that put a lot of stress on you and your
footwear. Sympatex is tough too, with up
to seven times the mechanical strength of
other waterproof materials. There's no way
for dirt and grease to get in and clog things
up, because there aren't any pores.
Whatever
the weather, you can be sure that Sympatex
will keep your feet dry and comfortable. It's simply the
smartest waterproofing choice for footwear
today. The unique non-porous construction
creates an absolute wall against wetness.
And through the wonders of physics and chemistry,
that same impenetrable water barrier actually
transports perspiration, so feet can breathe
too.
The
environment can breathe more easily wherever
Sympatex® is bought and sold.
Sympatex is
made from modified polyester, contains
no harmful substances, is non-toxic, has
no adverse effect on the skin, and is
100% environmentally safe.
Countless
hours of testing... Before
a new shoe goes into production, it has
to pass two important tests. The first of
these is the static trial in water, where
the shoe, whether it be for walking, fashion,
sports or special purpose, sits in water
for up to 24 hours.
After this, the flex tester simulates the
effect of walking in water. In the simulator,
the test samples 'walk' on the spot in water
for hours at a time. The production go-ahead
is not granted until the model has been
successful in both trials.
How
does the Sympatex® membrane work? When
people learn about the unique non-porous
construction of Sympatex, they often ask
this question.
In order to achieve its unique balance of
waterproof breathability, Sympatex uses
both chemistry and physics to its advantage.
Since it is a solid, non-porous film, Sympatex
is impervious to water. What makes Sympatex
unique are the hydrophilic (water-loving)
molecular zones that have been built into
the membrane.
When perspiration takes place on the inside
of a garment, it begins to evaporate. Since
the temperature and humidity inside an article
of clothing are higher than on the outside,
there is a driving force from the inside
to the outside. The free-floating moisture
vapor molecules from perspiration are driven
through the hydrophilic zones in the Sympatex
membrane to the outside of the garment where
they can evaporate, leaving the inside dry
and comfortable.
It's elemental!
Some
technical data on the Sympatex® membrane... Sympatex
is 100% waterproof, 100% windproof, can
be stretched up to 300% in any direction,
and is extremely breathable. Since the
membrane has a moisture vapour transmission
rate of more than 2500 g/m2 in a 24 hour
period (acc. ASTM E96-80 method B, mod.),
perspiration in the form of water vapor
is transported easily from the inside
to the outside.
When
people learn about the unique non-porous
construction of Sympatex, they often ask
this question.
Sympatex
is 100% waterproof, 100% windproof, can
be stretched up to 300% in any direction,
and is extremely breathable. Since the
membrane has a moisture vapour transmission
rate of more than 2500 g/m2 in a 24 hour
period (acc. ASTM E96-80 method B, mod.),
perspiration in the form of water vapor
is transported easily from the inside
to the outside.
